$7.43 with 7 percent savings
List Price: $7.99
The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
FREE International Returns
No Import Fees Deposit & $12.39 Shipping to France Details

Shipping & Fee Details

Price $7.43
AmazonGlobal Shipping $12.39
Estimated Import Fees Deposit $0.00
Total $19.82

Delivery Thursday, November 14. Order within 22 hrs 33 mins
Or fastest delivery Tuesday, November 12
In Stock
$$7.43 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$7.43
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Returnable until Jan 31, 2025
Returnable until Jan 31, 2025
For the 2024 holiday season, eligible items purchased between November 1 and December 31, 2024 can be returned until January 31, 2025.
Read full return policy
Returns
Returnable until Jan 31, 2025
For the 2024 holiday season, eligible items purchased between November 1 and December 31, 2024 can be returned until January 31, 2025.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Other sellers on Amazon
New & Used (29) from   $6.24
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Lois Lowry
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Willoughbys Paperback – March 23, 2010

by Lois Lowry (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,162 ratings
Teachers' pick
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$7.43","priceAmount":7.43,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"7","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"43","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"LhJZl1G7xXa2ZrkQcZI%2Ft0o0pakAor36KXUwVMwyHK00XsFqyVPRvQKXTwsV26wTeKI1LfUVH97oPIr%2FQSsC3yaG%2FAc4JGQoEEk%2Bz6XJOWBiQaesPoyWMh%2BbVFBoNkJ%2F7KX0x7BQS6o%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Now a Netflix animated film starring Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, Séan Cullen, and Ricky Gervais!

From the Newbery Medal-winning author of The Giver and Number the Stars, comes a "hilarious" (Booklist, starred review) and wonderfully old-fashioned story about a mother and father who are all too eager to be rid of their four children . . . and four children who are all too happy to be rid of their parents.

The Willoughby's—Timothy; his twin brothers, Barnaby A and Barnaby B; and their little sister, Jane—are old-fashioned children who adore old-fashioned adventures. Unfortunately, the Willoughby parents are not very fond of their children, and the truth is that the siblings are not too keen on their parents either. Little do the Willoughby kids know that their neglectful mother and father are hatching an evil plan to get rid of them! Not to worry—these resourceful adventurers have a few plans of their own. But they have no idea what lies ahead in their quest to rid themselves of their ghastly parents and live happily ever after.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Reading age
    7 - 11 years, from customers
  2. Part of series
    The Willoughbys
  3. Print length
    176 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    3 - 7
  6. Lexile measure
    790L
  7. Dimensions
    5.19 x 0.38 x 7.56 inches
  8. Publisher
    Yearling
  9. Publication date
    March 23, 2010
  10. ISBN-10
    0385737769
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0385737760
  12. See all details
Next slide of product details

Frequently bought together

The Willoughbys
This item: The Willoughbys
$7.43
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Willoughbys Return
$7.39
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Number the Stars: A Newbery Award Winner
$6.26
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Choose items to buy together.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
1,162 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the story entertaining, amusing, and edifying. They describe the book as enjoyable, easy to read aloud, and better for older readers. Readers also mention the pacing is adorable and witty.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Story qualityReadabilityPacingCharacter developmentBook age
51 customers mention "Story quality"51 positive0 negative

Customers find the story entertaining, amusing, and edifying. They say it's a great family comedy and adventure. Readers mention the book is exciting, funny at times, and a tongue-in-cheek spoof on the stereotypes of children's literature. They also say the characters are great and the kids love it.

"...We thought the book was exciting, funny at times, and at other times downright crazy. But overall, we thought it was a great read!..." Read more

"...Lois Lowry stories are always great, but in this one, she is making fun of classic stories like The Secret Garden, or Little Women, and actually..." Read more

"The Willoughbys was really fun and fast to read. Lois Lowry has stuffed it full of wonderful words and a fast-paced plot...." Read more

"...It gave me a Matilda vibe. Its not a hard nor long book to read but it was fun. Id reccomend this with or without the movie" Read more

39 customers mention "Readability"36 positive3 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, easy to read for adults, and fast. They appreciate the author's extensive use of vocabulary words and complex sentences.

"...It is definitely a satire and better for older readers (9+)...." Read more

"Great Book! Over the summer I created some discussion questions for use with upper elementary students. I love to share, so please use!..." Read more

"This is an amazing book that every little kid and every big kid should read...." Read more

"The Willoughbys was really fun and fast to read. Lois Lowry has stuffed it full of wonderful words and a fast-paced plot...." Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book clever, adorable, and witty. They also appreciate the good artwork and say it embodies them.

"Enjoyable book. Good artwork. Grandson enjoyed it, and we have reserved the sequel book already!" Read more

"So clever & adorable & witty! Loved it!" Read more

"This is a charming, tongue in cheek tale reminiscent of the Lemony Snicket books but less violent...." Read more

"Cute childrens book." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters quirky.

"...We laughed a lot through this quirky story with great characters and vocabulary. I understand a movie is being made based on this book...." Read more

"...reading, and my 7 and 9 year olds liked the absurdly wicked characters and plot twists very much...." Read more

"I enjoyed this little story. The characters were very quirky. It was a very easy read for an adult, perfect for in-bed reading." Read more

3 customers mention "Book age"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book odd and not suitable for children.

"Love this book. Great for read aloud with kids. Little odd, but perfectly so." Read more

"...The author is sick and so are the publishers. This is not a book for children!" Read more

"Strange children’s book..." Read more

Disappointed in condition of arrival
3 out of 5 stars
Disappointed in condition of arrival
I just opened this box with book my son asked for for Christmas. I didn't want him to see it this whole time but I just took it out of the box to wrap it for Christian present and it's ripped on the bottom back part of book.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Gina
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting and different! Better for older readers
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
When The Willoughbys came out on Netflix, my daughter couldn't get enough. When she realized there was a book, I couldn't say no.
Like most books-movies, there are differences and this book is no exception. It is strange, about parents who love eachother so much that they have no love left for thier own kids. As a result, the kids plan and plot to have a better life. It is definitely a satire and better for older readers (9+).
We thought the book was exciting, funny at times, and at other times downright crazy. But overall, we thought it was a great read!
After, I took the opportunity to have my daughter write a little report on the differences between the book and movie, which she actually enjoyed.
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
S. Henn
5.0 out of 5 stars Discussion Questions for a Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2009
Verified Purchase
Great Book! Over the summer I created some discussion questions for use with upper elementary students. I love to share, so please use!

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry - Questions for Book Discussion

Glossary& Bibliography - Do Before Reading the Book!

1) Glossary - Big Words - There is a glossary of difficult words in the back of the book, hilariously defined by the author. Which is your favorite one? Write it down and be ready to share why you like the word and/or the definition. Choose a big word not in the glossary (ask a parent or use the dictionary) and write its definition in the humorous style of the book's glossary.

2) Bibliography - Books Noted in Book - There is a bibliography for the works of fiction that the author alludes to in the book. Which titles are familiar? Which books have you read? Which have you not read, but want to read? Can you think of any other books that have `orphans' as main characters?

3) Look up irony, parody, spoof, satire, mockery, wit, and tongue-in-cheek. Remember these definitions as you read the book!

Chapters 1-11:

1) What elements make up good old-fashioned stories? How was the setting, and each of the characters similar or dissimilar to the setting and characters in old-fashioned stories?

2) What was ironic about the note pinned to the baby left on the Willoughby's doorstep? List all the characteristics of the Willoughby's family that indicate they are not like the family described in the note.

3) Describe the Melanoff mansion. How is the Melanoff mansion different than the Willoughby's house? If you had to choose one porch to leave a baby on, which would you choose? Why?

4) Is Tim a good big brother or a bad big brother? Give examples of both from the text (Tim's words and actions) then defend your answer.

5) How is Jane different than the other Willoughby children? How does she try to change as the book progresses? Provide examples of these attempts.

6) Is Tim's point system fair? Why or why not? How does Nanny defuse Tim's point system? What effect does the change have on each character?

7) How is Nanny similar and dissimilar to Mary Poppins? Provide examples.

8) Explain how the parents wanting to get rid of the kids and the kids wanting to become orphans is an example of irony.

9) Who is your favorite character and why? Who is your least favorite character and why?

10) The author provides a bit of foreshadowing. Based on that foreshadowing, what are your predictions for the book's ending? Provide evidence of your predictions from the text.

Chapters 12-21

1) How did the parents describe their children to each other (Chapter 2) and to others (i.e. to Nanny in Chapter 12)? How were their descriptions accurate and how were they inaccurate? (Yes, there may be some truth to their comments!)

2) How does the author present the Swiss people when Commander Malanoff's son thinks he is speaking German and when Mr. & Mrs. Willoughby plan to scale the Alp without proper gear? Do you think the American characters in the book would respond to those two situations the same way? If not, how might they respond? Find examples in the book to support your answer.

3) When the Commander's son is sent off on his walking tour he is told that is the way old-fashioned boys become robust and mature. What other parenting ideas in the book (for any of the children) did you find that were old-fashioned?

4) A running joke throughout the book is the presentation of words like dolt and dodo to describe stupidity. Nanny eventually passes a ruling on the use of such words. What does she say? (p. 96) Do you think her ruling was good? Did it help lesson Tim's use of words of that sort? Is there a difference between telling someone he/she did something stupid and telling someone he/she is stupid? Was it appropriate for the children and Nanny in the book to use those types of words? Is it ever appropriate for you to do so?

5) Nanny says, "I have learned over the course of my many years that it is a bad idea, usually, to investigate piteous weeping but always a fine idea to look into a giggle." (p. 100). Do you think this is meant to be a funny comment like so many other lines in the book, or do you think this could have an element of truth in it? Why?

6) Nanny claims to be not at all similar to Mary Poppins. The Commander claimed to be not at all like Archibald Craven. How did each of them see themselves? What didn't each like about the book character they were being compared to? Did any of the children in the book remind you of book characters? Explain

7) When the Willoughby house sold, Nanny and the kids tried to think about what old-fashioned people would do in their situation. What do you think Tim means when he says, "I think this would be easier if we were modern children, but we are old-fashioned. So our choices are limited." (p.117)? What kind of choices might modern children have in that situation? Was the solution successfully old-fashioned?

8) What did you expect the new candy bar to be named? Why? Did the candy bar's name help or hurt the story?

9) The story ends with a happy conclusion to an old-fashioned story. Did any characters change their personalities during the book? Why and how did they change? (Did they REALLY change?) What parts of the story could have helped you predict how Tim and Jane would become? (p.156)

10) How would you describe the writing style of the book? Should this book be used in school? Why or why not? If no, what do you find offensive about the book? If yes, what lessons can be learned from the book? Your answer can focus on content, writing style, vocabulary, or other literary elements.
25 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
V1ckwah
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Story
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is an amazing book that every little kid and every big kid should read. Lois Lowry stories are always great, but in this one, she is making fun of classic stories like The Secret Garden, or Little Women, and actually has a glossary in the back, outlining many of those stories (for future reading!), but in a very clever way. She also uses lots of fantastical, long words that most kids (and many adults) wouldn't know. BUT, have no fear, because she includes a mini dictionary in the back which gives definitions of those words, again, with a keen sense of humor. Loved this--favorite book of 2014 to date, and I'm in a grown up book club. This one was recommended to me by my 13 year old...!
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
M. Wigdahl
4.0 out of 5 stars Not Quite Top-Shelf Lowry, But Still Great
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2008
Verified Purchase
The Willoughbys was really fun and fast to read. Lois Lowry has stuffed it full of wonderful words and a fast-paced plot. (The part where the parents die is literally an aside within a sentence it moves so quickly.) The darkness of the story about children who want to be orphans and parents who wish to be free of their children certainly held my attention, much in the style of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

I don't know if there is a literary term for this genre - meta-literature? It is a story that is about stories; in that it pokes fun at fairy tales, refers to classic literature, and constantly calls itself old-fashioned. For some reason, while reading this, I just felt like these ideas were somewhat tired. It's almost like the book is too pleased with itself for me to join in on the pleasure. I certainly think it is clever, and I still think Lois Lowry is the master of middle-grade fiction. Obviously she wrote this book for the sheer enjoyment of writing - even putting it right on the cover "nefariously written by..." I have come to expect her work to be so tight, and this book is wildy scattered and full of gaping holes. She is too good to leave unanswered questions, so there is an epilogue, but it just quickly patches everything up so it can be over. Thank god she didn't have the candy-inventing old man name his new candy bar "Baby Ruth" as she set up the reader to believe would happen. That would have ruined it.

As a book club book, I am just not sure what to do with it. I can definitely say that it has given me a lot to think about, as has every Lowry book, but it isn't because of the themes. This book has left me considering how I feel about its style. Would it give students that same discussion fodder? Will they catch the allusions (well, actually, direct references) to classic literary characters? Will discussing how to get rid of their parents lead to high level talk?

While reading the story, my mind kept wandering to one question. Are all children's books tools for teaching reading? I mean, at some level, all books help us all become better readers. But, specifically, are children's books - when read by students who are still increasing vocabulary and understanding of literary styles and flexing their comprehension strategies - always tools for improving reading? I really am having trouble finding what a student would gain from this. It certainly is a great exercise in vocabulary building, what with its Very Own Glossary. But beyond that, I think other Lowry books fit the book club shelf better.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jessica
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone is a Barnaby
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
Bought this because of the movie hype. I can say that the two medias are very different. Not too much is kept the same but it makes sense for those to be changed for a movie adaptation. That being saod I really enjoyed the book. It gave me a Matilda vibe. Its not a hard nor long book to read but it was fun. Id reccomend this with or without the movie
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Laurie
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
Amazing book! Me and my daughter loved reading this book and as we watch the movie they made of this! Such a great book to teach kids about kindness, love , trust, adventure and family can be with anyone! Highly recommend. X
Customer image
Laurie
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2020
Amazing book! Me and my daughter loved reading this book and as we watch the movie they made of this! Such a great book to teach kids about kindness, love , trust, adventure and family can be with anyone! Highly recommend. X
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
Report
PatMat
4.0 out of 5 stars No es mala compra...
Reviewed in Spain on March 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
Lo compré para mi hija de trece años, no le pareció difícil de entender aunque no lo recordará como uno de sus libros favoritos.
Report
Janine S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book
Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2017
Verified Purchase
Love this book. It's funny and snarky and entertaining to both children and adults. Read the Glossary at the back for a glimpse of Lois Lowry's sense of humour.
Report
YYA
5.0 out of 5 stars A quirky and engaging read.
Reviewed in Canada on March 7, 2018
Verified Purchase
A great children’s book that has stood the test of time. Wonderful for expanding one’s vocabulary.
Report
Peanut
5.0 out of 5 stars A most unusual and darkly entertaining book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
Adults can read and enjoy this book as well. It's very unexpected in its dark humour and vastly entertaining.
Report